WASHINGTON IN 1834: 
LETTER OF ROBERT C. CALDWELL 



Contributed by 
George M. Whicher 



REPRINTED FROM THE 



Qmtttom primal § trim 

VOL. XXVII., No. 2 JANUARY, 1922 



Reprinted from Ihk American Historical Review, Vol. XX\ II, No. 2, Jan , 1922 



Washington in 1834; Letter of Robert C. Caldwell 

The following letter, presenting an entertaining picture of Wash- 
ington in 1834 and some interesting glimpses of President Jackson, 
was written by Robert C. Caldwell to his father, Colonel Samuel 
Caldwell, of Franklin, Ohio. For the opportunity to print it we are 
indebted to Professor George M. Whicher, of Hunter College, New 
York City, whose great-grandmother was in 1834 the wife of Colonel 
Caldwell. This lady, born Margaret Patterson, was thrice married. 
Her first husband was Samuel Venable, of Lexington, Kentucky. 
This letter passed at her death to her daughter by this first marriage, 
Mrs. Stephen Whicher (Mary Venable), from whom it descended 
to Professor Whicher. 

The letter is written on a double sheet of paper, 14 by 17 inches 
in size; the four pages are entirely filled save the small space which 
was left to be the front and back of the folded letter when ready for 
mail. There is no sign of direction or postmark, or indication of the 
postage, from which it may be inferred that the letter was trans- 
mitted by some friend. 

Colonel Samuel Caldwell, a proprietor in Franklin before 1810, 
and holder of various offices in its early days, was a state senator of 
Ohio in 1824, 1825, 1828, and 1829, and at the time when the letter 
was written was an associate judge of the court of common pleas for 
Warren County. 1 Robert C. Caldwell was appointed second, lieu- 
tenant in the Marine Corps October 17, 1834, first lieutenant March 
3, 1845, an d died November 13, 1852. 

Washington City 29th Dec. 1834 
Dear Father, 

Probably you think long by this time to receive a letter from me and 
as I have an abundance of leisure whenever I choose to curtail my 
curiosity and confine myself to my room, I have concluded to write you 
and try if I can fill, in such measure as to be interesting to you, this 
mammoth sheet. Well I have seen a great many new things and great 
men, since I came here, but before I proceed to tell you about them you 
must first hear how I arrived here and when. — I wrote you last as I 
was about to leave Cin. 2 on Wednesday the 3rd inst. Arrived safely 

1 History of Warren County, Ohio (Chicago, 1882), pp. 423, 424, 427, 519- 
521, 550. 

2 Cincinnati. 

AM. HIST. REV., VOL. XXVII. — 1 9. 

(271) 



2 7 2 Documents 

on Saturday at 10 o'clock P. M. at Wheeling. Took stage next morning 
at 10 o'clock and arrived (via Washington, Brownsville, Union, 3 Cum- 
berland and Hagerstown) at Frederictown i on Tuesday evening at 4 
o'clock. Next morning took the rail-road to Baltimore, 60 miles, and 
arrived at Bait, early in the evening having traveled at the rate of 15 
miles per hour, part of the way by horse-power and part by steam. 
Almost ail the towns from Wheeling to Baltimore are flourishing in- 
land towns, and Frederic especially. Bait, is a curious city — the Monu- 
mental City. Among its curiosities are the Washington Monument — 
the battle monument, the public fountains — the shot towers — the Cathe- 
dral — and the shipping. — The Washington Monument is built of white 
marble and is 180 feet in hight. I ascended it and had a bird's eye 
view of all the city — and the prospect over the surrounding country and 
far, far down the bay is very delightful. The shipping, consisting of 
Frigates, Brigs, Schooners, Sloops and what not, some sailing up and 
some sailing down the bay, moving with the fleetness of birds and as if 
by some magic influence, contrasts very happily with the vessels at the 
wharf, which with their masts and yards all stripped of their sails, look 
like a deadened forest on the beach. These, you know, were the first 
vessels I had ever seen with a mast and sails. 

Well, the Cathedral I cannot pretend to describe particularly; it is 
the Roman Cath. church and is the largest in America — is filled with 
splend'd and curious paintings and as a curiosity is a considerable 
source of revenue to the church, as they charge 25 cents for every 
person who visits it. — The shot towers are merely great tall cones 
built of brick, immensely high. The public fountains are merely natural 
springs, very large and strong, which have, for the convenience of the 
city, been walled up with hewn stone, and very handsomely adorned. 
There are some three or four of them. 

On the 12th, passed from Bait, here, by stage in 5 hours, distance 
40 miles — arrived here at 2 o'clock on Friday the 12 inst. — put up at 
Brown's Hotel 5 — boarding $1-25 per day — dear enough, but 25 cents 
per day cheaper than Gadsby's. 6 On the 17th found a genteel and com- 
fortable boarding-house at $1.00 per day a few doors from Brown's on 
the opposite side of Pa. Avenue and removed to it, where I now am 
wr'ting this letter. — But to return a little. On my arrival, found Taylor 
Webster and Gen. Taylor of Newport 7 boarding at the same house, 
made my arrival known to them soon and they treat me with great 
friendship and politeness. I get into my own room and all things ar- 
ranged; I overhaul my letters of Introduction. Find among the most 

3 Uniontown, Pa. 

4 Frederick, Md. 

5 The Indian Queen Hotel, kept by Jesse Brown, on the north side of Penn- 
sylvania Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets. 

6 The National Hotel, Pennsylvania Avenue and Sixth Street. 

7 Gen. James Taylor (1759-1848). of Newport, Ky., quartermaster general 
of Hull's forces in 1812. and in 1834 probably the largest landed proprietor in 
the Ohio Valley. Lewis Collins, History of Kentucky (second ed., Covington, 
1882), pp. 114-115. He was a first cousin of Col. Richard Taylor, Zachary 
Taylor's father. A. R. Watson, Some Notable Families of America (New York, 
1898), p. 19. See also American Historical Register, I. 57-58. 



Washington in 1834 2 73 

prominent of them Micajah T's s to Martin Van B. So off I goes at 
a proper hour in the day to call upon the Gent. — find him in — he re- 
ceives me with a hearty welcome and presents me by letter to the 
Prest. — where, calling, I meet Maj. Donaldson 9 who reads Mr. Whitch- 
ers 10 letter and leads me in and introduces me, in propria persona, to 
Gen. Jackson. I see no change in the Gen since I saw him in Cin- 
cin. 11 — he received me very cordially indeed — in company with him I 
found Amos Kendal and Bell of Tennessee, Speaker of the House, 12 
and two or three others, to all of whom I was cordially introduced and 
then invited to sit and spend the evening in familiar chit-chat which 
of course I did. — dispersed at a seasonable hour with an invitation to 
take a family dinner with the Prest. and Maj. D. and family on a 
specified day, which invitation I of course accepted. 

Well the day came round, and 3 o'clock, the dining hour, found me 

introduced into the anti-chamber along with Col. (somebody, 

I've forgotten his name) and Col. somebody else, whose name 

I cannot call either, and presently the Maj. D. and the Prest. entered 
and there we sat some 15 minutes or so chatting, when the Porter in- 
formed the Maj. dinner was ready — lead by the porter we passed out 
of the Anti-chamber, through a spacious Hall and entered another very 
finely furnished room which was darkened by the window-curtains and 
blinds, and contained two tables richly laden with fine plate and dishes 
and tall splendid lamps burning on either table — around one table were 
the chairs which showed that that was the one at which we were to 
sit — so we were seated — what attracted my attention first was the very 
nicely folded Knapkin on each plate, with a slice of good light bread in 
the middle of it. — Well, all being seated, the Gen. asked a blessing, 
then the servants about the table, I believe one to every man, com- 
menced — "Will you have some roast beef? — some corn beef? — some 
boiled beef? — some beef stake?" 13 

Well, the beef being through with, away goes your plate and a 
clean one comes. "Will you have this kind or that kind or the other 
kind of fish?" Fish being through, a new plate and then some other 
dish. Then a new plate and some other dish — then a new plate and 
the pies — then the desert — then and in the mean time the wines — sherry, 
madaira, and champagne which are filled into the glasses by the Butler, 
and then with a significant nod of the head drink one another's health 

8 Meaning, no doubt, Micajah T. Williams, of Cincinnati, surveyor general 
for Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. 

s Maj. Andrew Jackson Donelson, the president's wife's nephew. See 
American Historical Reviezv, XXIII. 355—356. 

10 Stephen Whicher had married the writer's half-sister, Mary Venable. 

11 Jackson was at Cincinnati, " over one boat ", in the preceding summer. 

12 Amos Kendall, fourth auditor of the treasury ; John Bell. 

is The reader who is struck by the amplitude of the provision may like to 
compare the grave conversation of Washington's best waiter with Mrs. Samuel 
Harrison Smith over a small dinner to be given, that same winter, to Miss 
Martineau. '"Yesterday at Mrs. Woodbury's there was only 18 in company 
and there were 30 dishes of meat'. . . . But I carried my point in only having 
8 dishes of meat, tho' I could not convince Henry it was more genteel than 
a grander dinner". First Forty Years of Washington Society, pp. 360-362. 



274 Documents 

— then after so long a time, all of which made very agreeable by mis- 
cellaneous conversation we rise from table and retire again to the 
chamber whence we had come, where being seated and in conversation 
in high glee, in comes a servant with a dish of coffee for each of us. 
Well, must drink it of course — so directly aside looking at my watch 
find it a'most 7 o'clock, I conclude it must be time for me to retire. 
So I takes the Prest. by the hand and says " Gen., I bid you good-night 
and it will always be my pride to do you honour." Well says the Gen. 
" You can do it in no way better than by learning your duty and dis- 
chargeing it faithfully. Improve your opportunities and you will no 
doubt make a first-rate officer." These words the Gen. spoke with an 
air of characteristic frankness and in the presence of those gentlemen 
before named, so that I could not but look upon them as very flattering 
testimonials. With a hearty shake of the hand I bid the Gen. Adieu 
— then taking leave of the other gentlemen I retired quite gratified at 
the hospitality and friendship I had reed. 

But I find myself rather ahead of my story. Meanwhile between 
the time that I reed the invitation and eat the dinner, I saw Gen Lipton, 
H. and E. Hayward, Reynolds, Cass, and Dickerson, 14 of my own 
Corps Maj. Weed, Col. Henderson, Col. Brown, Adjt Howie, Capt 
Twigs [?], Lieut. Tyler and Doct. Kearney — besides several other 
officers of different grades whose names (except Gen Jesup and Col. 
Craughan) 15 I cannot pretend to recollect and I expect hardly their 
faces. Well now for some of the strange things I have seen. 

The Capitol. I wish I possessed the faculty of noticeing things 
minutely and then the ability to describe them lucidiy and accurately, 
I would then portray to you this building. It is said that there is not 
another Edifice in the known world that combines in such sweet pro- 
portions, as does this, the excellencies of grandeur, magnificence, superb- 
ness, splendour, beauty and simplicity. It is built of solid white marble 
blocks, and I think scarcely a wooden floor or step about it — all stone 
and floors brick. You have frequently seen engravings of it, and 
probably you may now see somewhere on the walls of the public house 
you are at the picture hanging; if so it will give you a better idea 
of the external appearance of the building than I can give you with 
my pen. The principal front is East — and most splendid it is (but 
here I begin to meet the difficulty; I cannot describe with any justice; 
however to make up for the lameness of what I may say and to give 
you a more perfect idea of the building, I will try to procure and have 
franked to you, a description by the Architect himself, which you will 
find mystified by technics, but the most of which you will be able to 
understand.) 16 I was saying the front east, — and the West; — what 

14 Probably the reference is to Lewis Cass, secretary of war, and Mahlon 
Dickerson, secretary of the navy. The members of the writer's own corps here 
mentioned are, apparently. Maj. Elijah J. Weed, quartermaster of the corps, Col. 
Archibald Henderson, colonel commandant U. S. M. C. 1S34-1S59, Capt. Parke 
G. Howie, Capt. Levi Twiggs, First Lieut. Henry B. Tyler, and Surgeon John 
A. Kearney, U. S. N. 

isMaj.-Gen. Thomas S. Jesup, quartermaster general U. S. A. 1S1S-1860; 
Col. George Croghan, inspector general 1825-1849. 

16 Guide to the Capitol of the United States (Washington, 1834), "by 



J U*~*t'*'t 7n 



Washington in 1834 2 75 

is it? Why a front also grand, elegant. The ends North and South 
are also elegant fronts — the building is four stories including the base- 
ment story — this lowest is cut off into rooms and halls chiefly formed 
by the arches that sustain the superstructure — two of these spacious 
rooms are devoted to Refectories or Eating houses for the members — 
towards the close of the session the houses sit from 10 A. M. till 2 A. 
M. of the following day sometime, and then it is that they make use 
particularly of these houses — they call for Mutton Soup, or turtle soup, 
or Oyster Soup, or beef stake or Coffee or tea or rum, just as they 
choose, and get whatever they call for.— Congress furnishes the keepers 
with house and fire-wood free of charge and then regulates, by rule, the 
price of everything, so that they cannot be imposed upon, and one mem- 
ber of the House told me that none but Members were admitted there 
and another told me anybody who pleases may go and eat if he pays 
the established fare; so, how that matter stands, exactly, I cannot say, 
for I have never gone to eat. The second story is divided into rooms 
and halls — one for the U. S. Court— one for the Library of Congress — 
then some jury and committee rooms — the third story into rooms for 
the several standing Committees of both Houses— and the fourth story 
consists of the Chambers of the two Houses of Congress (i.e.) ex- 
cepting the central part of the build'ng which consists of but one story 
from the base of the 2nd story — that is, it is carried up in a circle 
through all the stories to the very top of the great dome— this is what 
is called the rotunda which is lit from the top of the Dome, which con- 
tains some grand pieces of sculpture and some excellent paintings illus- 
trative of scenes which occurred during the Infancy of the Republic, 
and principally during the Revolutionary War. 17 These sculptures and 
paintings are set in niches in the wall, made on purpose to receive 
them.— A Bronze statue of Jefferson stands out in the floor 1S and two 
elegant statues lately executed by Persico, a famed Italian Artist, which 
are set each on a temporary pedestal of wood — one is the representation 
of the God of War— Mars as the Romans called him— and the other 
the Goddess of Peace— carved from white (and I suppose Italian) marble 
— they have been the work of years — the artist is here now; a very 
swarthy and excessively jovial Italian— he takes great pride in brush- 
ing them up and keeping them in complete order- I have not yet learned 
what Congress is to give h'm for the work, but have no doubt but 
the sum will be immense. 19 

Robert Mills, Engineer and Architect ", who however was not architect of the 
Capitol. That office was abolished in 1S29, Charles Bulfinch then retiring; Mills 
was appointed architect in 1836. The pamphlet is not excessively technical, 
though it is excessively occupied with the opinions of Mills. The young 
lieutenant's statements as to the interior arrangements of the Capitol are not 
always accurate. 

ir Referring to Trumbull's four paintings. The other four are of later 
execution. 

is Afterward placed in the grounds of the White House, but now once 
more in the rotunda of the Capitol. 

19 In 1S37 these figures were set up in niches in the east portico; see pi. 
117 in Glenn Brown's History of the United States Capitol (Washington, 1900), 
vol. I. Successive appropriation acts, beginning in 1829, show the total pay- 



276 Documents 

The Library of Congress is one of the interior curiosities which 1 
have not yet had time to examine, but shall take some early oppor- 
tunity of doing so. — The two chambers, in their internal arrangement, 
very much resemble the Senate Chamber at Columbus — so much for the 
inside of the Capitol, now for round about awhile. A lot of probably 
two acres lies spread out before the East front; very beautifully in- 
deed laid off into walks and flower-beds — it is true at this season of 
the year the trees and shrubbery and bushes are not loaded with flowers 
and blossoms and fruit, yet the very mention of them, some of whose 
names have hardly an existence save in some poetic or classical asso- 
ciation — I say the very mention of the names of these rare exotics has 
a tendency to stir up the imagination to painting of all their gay 
decorations — all sorts and varieties of evergreens etc. etc. etc. — 
Directly in front of the Central door of the Capitol is a fish-pond — it 
is of oval shape, perhaps 2 rods wide by 3 rods long and some ten or 
twelve feet deep — paved in the bottom with hewn stone and built up 
around of the same material — then a few bushels of beautiful clean 
gravel thrown in — the water as clear as crystal and a beautiful cerulean 
blue — then caged in this miniature sea are great varieties of little fish 
— this pond is fenced round with an iron railing. 20 Near the top of 
the stone wall you can discover an orifice of perhaps thirty square 
inches, through which the water flows toward the Capitol, but you see 
it no more till you come round to the entrance of the basement story 
on the West, where, right in front of the very entrance it gushes out 
of a rich marble fountain, made for the purpose, into a large marble 
bowl which sits on a marble pedestal, a convenient hight for one to 
wash at. From this fountain, overflowing the bowl, it runs through 
a smooth, square gutter cut in rock for perhaps two rods, then falls 
with the continued roar of a miniature cataract into another fish-pond, 
iust like the last excepting that it is square, instead of oval. Right in 
the Centre of this pool of water stands what is currantly denominated 
"the Naval Monument". 21 It is bu'lt chiefly of white marble, but, as 
I cannot command the technic's of the Sculptor's Art, I cannot pretend 
to give you a picture of this curiosity. I can, however, tell by whom 
erected and for what purpose, which I do by telling you what is en- 
graved, on its several squares. On the East side are written, in the 
marble, these words; (viz) "Erected to the memory of Capt. Richard 
Somers, Lieutenants James Caldwell, James Decatur, Henry Wadsworth, 
Joseph Israel and John Dorsey who fell in the differant attacks that 
were made on the city of Tripoli in the year of our Lord 1804 and in 
the 28th year of the Independence of the United States." These words 
are on the South side; (viz) "The love of Glory inspired them, Fame 
has crowned their deeds. History records the event, the children of 
Columbia admire, and Commerce laments their fall." On the North 
ment to have been $24,000. The signing of the contract was Adams's last action 
as president; Memoirs, VIII. 104, 123. Luigi Persico was a Neapolitan artist 
who had lived in Lancaster, Philadelphia, and elsewhere in America since 1819. 
W. U. Hensel, An Italian Artist in Old Lancaster (Lancaster, 1912") ; Works 
of James Buchanan, III. 56—59. 

20 See pi. 90 in Glenn Brown, op. cit. 

21 Now in Annapolis. See pi. 89. ibid. 



Washington in 1834 277 

Side, these words; (viz) "As a small tribute of respect to their memory, 
and of admiration of their valor, so worthy of imitation, their brother 
Officers have erected this Monument." So you see I am not the first 
Caldwell that ever entered the American Navy. Who this namesake 
was, by blood and origin, I know not, 22 but the name he has already 
immortalized, and here it stands, imperishable as the marble. Well, so 
be it. I covet not the glory of any man, nor do I feel disposed to boast 
vainly; but I frankly declare this, that it is my determination to deserve 
promotion, if in my power ; and to obtain it as speedily as possible. 
And if, as circumstances, of which I shall presently speak, seem to in- 
dicate, it is my lot to have been thrown into the Navy in just the nick 
of time, when we may have some active defense of our rights to make, 
be assured your name shall not be disgraced, nor your memory dis- 
honoured, by the cowardice of one who holds both sacred. My temper 
is pacific, my voice is still for peace ; but should circumstances in our 
national affairs bring about a war, I shall be responsible only for the 
result. If I die, it shall be at my post. — But hold ! my pen seems given 
to digressions — we will have a word or two about the French War here- 
after. I will now return to my story. 

The President's House is the next curiosity. It is built very much 
in external appearance like the Capitol excepting the Domes — and ex- 
cepting that, although an immensely large house, it is small compared 
to the Capitol — it is a Capitol in miniature — and all that I can say of 
it is, that in the inside it seems to a stranger to be curiously arranged, 
so much so that he might with ease get lost in it. It is most richly and 
elegantly furnished, and comes up to my idea of a Royal Palace. On 
the outside it is commanding and magnificently grand. The yard and 
grounds around it are gratefully and gracefully adorned with trees, 
shrubbery, grass borders and walks. The Palace stands in the center 
of probably a ten acre lot and fronts North and south. On the east 
and west ends of the ten acre lot, or " President's square " as it is 
called, stand the four departments of State, Treasury, War and Navy. 23 
(The Treasury building was burned down, you remember, but its place 
is here yet.) These buildings are very spacious — built of brick — rather 
antiquated in appearance. But I will tire myself and weary you if I 
continue dwelling on the minutiae of things. Suffice it for this part of 
my story, to say that the whole " square " is enclosed with an iron rail- 
ing fence, or something so much like it that one might readily be de- 
ceived, and the whole concern together looks as if it might be the 
Manor of some such Nabob as Uncle Sam. The City of Washington 
is curiously laid out; but if you have ever seen a map of it, you will 
have a better idea of it than I can give you with my pen. However, 

-'- James R. Caldwell, of Pennsylvania, first lieutenant of the Siren, killed 
Aug. 7, 1S04, in one of the gunboat attacks on Tripoli. Goldsborough, U. S. 
Naval Chronicle, p. 227. 

23 The building of the State Department, and south of it that of the 
Treasury Department, stood at the east of the White House, approximately 
where the Treasury now stands; the building of the War Department, and south 
of it that of the Navy Department, at the west, about where now stands the 
State, War, and Navy Building. The allusion in the next sentence is to the 
fire of 1S33. 



278 Documents 

this much I can say (viz) There is a set of streets they call Avenues, 
that all commence at the center of the Capitol and radiate to every 
point, l / 2 point, and J4 point of the Compass, another set that commence 
at the center of the Prest's House and radiate in the same way and 
then in addition to these the town is laid out in the old checquer-board 
style with streets crossing each other at right angles — So that from 
the Capitol or from the Prest's House you may go straight in what- 
ever direction you please. 

I have not yet taken an opportunity to examine the curiosities in 
the Patent Office or the office of the War Dep. where I am told there 
are some to be seen. Also in the Dep. of State — the Prest's H. — The 
curiosity one feels at first to hear the great men of the Nation make 
their speeches in Congress, I find soon wears off. Clay is very calm as 
yet and rather sulky. Webster says but little, but is expected to loom 
forth some of these days on the French claims previous to 1800. J. Q. 
Adams has not spent much breath yet this session; I suppose he has 
been condenseing for the purpose of making a great blow on the 31st 
in honour of the memory of the great and good Lafayette. 24 I expect 
that to be an occasion of interest and anticipate it with great pleasure. 
So much of the Prest's Message as refers to the French treaty is quite 
obnoxious to the blue-lights. 25 I believe it is refered to the Com. on 
Foreign Affairs, of which I think Clay is Chairman and he is expected 
to make his home thrust from that quarter. Some of the knowing ones 
seem to think and talk as if a war is inevitable, others say they cannot 
predict the issue, but there is only one path for them and that is to 
sustain the Executive in his proposed measures ; better incur, say they, the 
expence, the difficulties and losses of a war than suffer the honour of the 
American nation to be tarnished (and by the way let me tell you, the Navy 
officers here, almost to a man, are hoping and praying for War). The 
event of the matter. I think however, will probably be that Congress 
will fight the battle themselves in the Capitol and save the French Na- 
tion and the American Navy the trouble. 

Weil, (to strike off onto something new,) you do not expect that 
I have learned much yet about my duty as Lieut, or about the strength 
or condition of the American Navy, but being here, every day less or 
more, associating with Officers and men conversant with the service I 
could not avoid learning something. And I am perfectly astonished to 
learn how very limited is our navy, both in ships and men. The whole 
number of vessels in commission at present is only nineteen, as follows, 
1 ship of the line !, 4 Frigates. 8 sloops of war, and 6 schooners ! ! ! A 
mighty force indeed ! Well, the whole force of men in the Navy proper, 
including Commissioned and Warrant Officers and seamen and boys 
and every kind of creature is only 6.072. That of the Marine Corps 
is only 1283, making in all 7355. 26 When from this force you deduct 

24 Lafayette died May 20, 1834. At the request of both houses of Congress, 
Adams delivered before them, on Dec. 31, 1834, an oration on Lafayette, 
printed in various editions. Memoirs, IX. 151-155, 196. 

25 Federalists, here no doubt meaning, opponents of Jackson. 

26 All these figures agree with, and were doubtless taken from, the annual 
report of the Secretary of the Navy communicated to Congress by the President 
on Dec. 2. American State Papers, Naval Affairs, IV. 5S9-590. 



Washington in 1834 279 

the ineffective part of the force you have but a small remnent left to 
contend with the thousands and thousands of the French Navy, for in- 
stance. We have but seven Navy yards, which are strewed along the 
coast as follows: Portsmouth, Boston, New York, Phila., Washington, 
Norfolk, and Pensacola. The different stations or squadrons into which 
our Navy is divided are as follows : 1 The Mediterranean, 2 The West 
Indian, 3 The Brazilian, 4 The Pacific and East Indian. Thus scat- 
tered over the world for the purpose of more advantageously protecting 
our wideky'extended commerce — and by the way our widely extended 
commerc'e would afford our nation the means of very suddenly increas- 
ing her navy, in the event of a war, for, in addition to the 13 naval 
vessels that are now in ordinary, (i.e.) laid up for repair, and the 13 
that are in building, all of which would be speedily made ready for the 
sea, the Government could purchase Merchant Briggs and fit them out 
with guns, at comparatively trifling expense to almost any amount that 
any possible emergency could require, and that in a very short time. 

Col. Henderson I find to be a very plain and familiar man, entirely 
easy in his manners and very gentlemanly in his friendship,' — has noth- 
ing of the cold and withering frost of ceremony about him. Being 
very favorably presented to him he told me that I might remain here 
until I was satisfied and then let him know whenever I was ready for 
orders, and he would send me to Norfolk, Phila., N. Y. or Boston, just 
as I would choose. Here then is the question for me. I have con- 
sidered the matter myself and obtained all the information I could about 
the several stations, and think of preferring Boston. 27 Will probably 
leave here about the 5th or 8th of Jan. '35. 

I will tell you in full the course I have been cuting out for myself 
in imagination ; it is this : to spend the remainder of the present winter 
in Boston, perhaps till May next — then receive orders to join a vessel 
in the Pacific station for a 3 years cruise, during which I will circum- 
navigate the Globe, then in the spring of '38 return to the U. S., spend 
the summer on leave of absence among my friends in the West so as 
to rejoin again for a season the family circle and around the fireside 
and home of my youth to communicate to my dear parents and the 
family the result of these three years absence and experience in this 
strange world. — The summer being ended to rejoin the service and be 
sent out early in the fall on an other three years cruise to the Mediter- 
anean station — then returning in the fall of 1841 to the U. S., resign 
my commission and retire to some sequestered spot and spend the re- 
mainder of my days in the sweet and peaceful enjoyment of the tran- 
quilities of private life. But in the meantime during this 7 years of 
service it will be my fixed determination to give my leisure hours to 
Scientific research and especially to the thorough acquirement of the 
Profession of the Law- — which, yes all of which, I will have abundance 
of leisure to do and almost equal advantages with those I would enjoy 
were I stationed all the while on land and in our own country. 

I will submit my plan to Judge McLane 2S and get his advice as 
2" The Official Register for 1S35 and the Naval Register for January, 1836, 
show the writer stationed at Boston (Charlestown). 

2s John McLean, of Ohio, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the 
United States 18^9-1861. 



280 Documents 

to what library I ought to possess myself of both in reference to the 
particular study of the Law and to general scientific research. 

The almost numberless islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans at 
which it will probably be my privilege to touch on this cruise, abound 
you know with things at once curious and useful — and a communica- 
tion of the knowledge of which might at the same time be a positive 
and valuable acquisition to the scientific intelligence of this country, and 
perhaps a source of pecuniary profit to myself — for " of the making of 
books", you know, "there is no end". — I also intend proposing my 
plan to Col. Henderson and if I can do it in a proper way I think 
there will be no doubt but he will favour my views and wishes, and 
give me orders to those differant stations. I find that there is a great 
deal to be gained by being in favour with the powers that be — there 
is a good deal of shufling in the rank, a good deal of favouritism. 

I know not what I ought to fill the remaining blank with that would 
be of most interest to you. I know of no political news nor of any- 
thing specially interesting from Congress. You see the journals as re- 
ported in the several papers of the city. Perhaps it will be amusing 
to describe to you what will be my uniform as Lieut, of Marines. 
Cap — bell-crown, black leather varnished, mounted with brass scales, 
brass eagle, black cockade and yellow pompons. Coat — grass green 
cloth, double breasted, two rows guilt, convex, with eagle, anchor and 
stars, raised border buttons, ten in each row; standing collar, edged 
with buff, two loops and buttons on collar of gold lace, — skirt to extend 
nearly to the bend of the knee, with two large buttons at the waist 
and gold embroidered shell and flame at the bottom of the skirt; breast 
to be lined with buff and other small items of ornament so as to make 
it look splendid. Epaulettes one on each shoulder, of bright gold bul- 
lion 2 J / 2 inches long and somewhat less than y 2 inch diameter, plain 
gold lace strap, solid crescent, the letters M. C. to be embroidered or of 
silver within the crescent. Trousers from 15 Oct till 30 April, light 
grey cloth with buff cloth stripe down the outer seam i J / 2 inches wide 
and welted on the edges. From 1st May till 14 Oct., white linen drill- 
ing, plain and spotless. Sword' — brass scabbard sword with a mamaluke 
hilt of white ivory, extreme length of sword 3 feet i J / 2 inch, curve of 
blade l / 2 inch only, so as to be used for cut or thrust, the hilt (included 
in extreme length) 4% inches, width of scabbard i}i inches, width of 
blade 1 inch. Sword-knot, crimson and gold with bullion tassel. Sword 
belt of white leather, 2 J / 2 inches wide etc. Sash crimson silk net, 
with bullion fringe ends, to go twice round the waist and tie on the 
left hip; the pendant part to be one foot from the tie. Stock black 
bombasin, white gloves, etc. Boots worn under pants. This is for 
dress or parade uniform; then we have a frock coat, grass green cloth, 
single breasted, with ten large marine buttons down the front, two 
small marine buttons at cuffs, plain stand up collar, lining buff. And 
then [a] ca'lash, " sort a " fatigue cap. The general opinion of the 
uniform is that it could not well be much more splendid than it is. 
All this is quite right — the Nation is opulent — the service is honorable 
and the uniform ought to be of the first respectability. 

About my business with Mrs.- Long, I would like to hear, if you 
have learned anything new, or how she likes the leaving of the notes 



■t 



Washington in 1834 281 

in the Bk. I think of course that I must insist on the payment of the 
face of the notes. As soon as any money is paid in, I wish to invest 
it in some profitable stock, if I could be advised. You cannot probably 
receive this letter before I leave this city, but please write me imme- 
diately to Boston on the receipt of this letter. Let me know all about 
your winter arrangements and how Jas. is contented at home when John 
and I are both away,— how he is like [to] progress with brother McDil!. 
I hope he will think of nothing short of a thorough liberal education; 
as I know it is your wish to give it to him and as I know it will be 
of more value to him than many times the amount of treasure it will 
cost to procure it. My love to him always. Give my best love to 
Mother 20 and tell her that so soon as I can equip myself cap apie, and 
can meet with a gifted and liberal artist, I will have a full length' por- 
trait of the soldier drawn and send it home for a family piece, which 
will grace her parlour better than the face I gave her. I hear nothing 
of Robt Welsh, 30 but suppose of course he has sailed long ago for the 
West Indies as his letters led us to expect before I left home. We had 
a fall of snow 3 or 4 days ago which had not all gone off last night, 
when it commenced snowing again and has continued without inter- 
ruption to-day until now 5 o'clock P. M. The weather has not been 
cold; but I expect after this that I shall have a cold ride to Boston 
and have it cold when I get there. But wrap in furs will be the remedy. 

Your affectionate son, 

R. C. Caldwell. 

29 The writer's stepmother. 

so Robert Patterson Welch, son of Mrs, Caldwell by her second husband, 
Rev. James Welch (d. 1S25). entered the naval service as a midshipman Apr. 
1, 1S28. The Naval Register of January, 1835, lists him as on the sloop St. Louis, 
then on the West Indian station. 



